Sit-down Saturday with Beth Carpenter

Today we’re celebrating the August release of The Alaskan Catch: A Northern Lights Novel. 

So, Beth, this is your first Harlequin. Tell us briefly about "The Call!"

On a Friday last September, Editor Victoria Curran tweeted:

I knew she had two of my stories, but didn’t really believe it could be me she was talking about. Still, I hoped. We had company that weekend, which was a good thing because otherwise it would have been a long three days. On Monday, we took my mother-in-law to the airport in Phoenix and decided to visit the botanical gardens. Walking among the prickly pears, I got "The Call" from my agent. People probably wondered why looking at cactus made me so happy.

In looking at the cover, if you could add a caption or captions, what would they say?

"You give me the courage to do things I never dreamed I could."

What is your favorite scene? 

It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I like this scene because it sets up their whitewater adventure. At this point in the story, Dana has accomplished what she came to Alaska for, but both she and Sam are having a hard time saying goodbye. Sam is checking his raft, getting ready for a float trip after she’s gone, and he’s considering who to take along.

Maybe he should just go by himself. Sam had never done more than a two-day float alone, but he needed time to think, to get his bearings. He’d floated Brazzle Creek a dozen times, so there shouldn’t be anything unexpected he couldn’t handle. Yeah, a few days alone on the creek might be just what he needed.

Dana wandered outside and stood with her hands on her hips, looking over the blue inflatable. “So, this is your raft.”

“This is it.”

“How do you get it inside the plane?”

Sam laughed. “I let the air out of it. I pump it up again once I get there.”

“By hand? It’s what, about sixteen feet long? That must take a while.”

“It’s a big pump.” He tightened a clamp on his oar frame. “Did you find a flight?”

“I found a couple. With so little notice, I’ll have to fly at about two in the morning.”

“You’ll find the airport surprisingly busy then. Did you book it?”

“Not yet. I wanted to see if it mattered to you whether I went tonight or tomorrow.”

Frankly, he didn’t want her to go at all, but he couldn’t tell her that. “Either is fine.”

“Okay.” She turned toward the house.

“Dana?”

She looked back over her shoulder. “Yes?”

“Want to come on the float trip with me?” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he regretted them. She had zero experience with primitive camping. She would probably be miserable if she did come, and make him miserable, too. And yet, a part of him still hoped she’d say yes.

She blinked. “Your fly-in six-day trip down Brazzle Creek?”

“Yeah, that one.”

“You’re serious?”

“Sure, if you want to.” But he had to be honest with her about the conditions. “There will be mud. And mosquitoes. And no toilets or showers for a week. And the water’s cold. But if you want, you can come.”

Dana laughed. “Sam, it’s a good thing you don’t sell used cars for a living. Yes, I’d love to see your wild river.”

What music would match the mood of this novel?

I think this one, "Home to Alaska" fits the bill, because even though Dana has never been there before, Alaska seems to call her home. I'm not too sure about that coat, though.




What’s next?

The next Northern Lights Novel, A Gift for Santa, comes out in December. It features Dana’s brother, Chris.  His ex-fiancée, Marissa, is back on her family’s reindeer farm after ten years away. They’re in the middle of their Christmas party season, but her uncle is sick and can’t play his usual role as Santa Claus. As a favor to Marissa’s aunt, Chris agrees to fill in. Further complicating everything is a seven-year-old dog-loving dinosaur expert who sneaks into Chris’s life and makes him question past decisions.

What are you reading for pleasure right now?

I recently finished 50 Hours by Loree Lough. Such a deep and tender story. I’m just about to dig into the other August Heartwarming books, to see what Simon and Charlie are up to in Butterfly Harbor, find out Luke’s story after meeting him in the last State of the Union book, and to discover what happens after Cassie sets Grady’s house on fire. This is going to be fun.

Today is the first day of my Prism Book Tour. Over the next week, The Alaskan Catch will be making the rounds with excerpts, reviews, and special posts, along with a fun Taste of Alaska giveaway. Thanks to the twenty great book bloggers who signed up to host. See the launch interview and tour schedule HERE.

If you haven't yet entered the August Heartwarming Mystery Prize Giveaway, there's still time. But hurry, the giveaway runs until August 15th. 

To learn more about my books or say hello, drop by my website or facebook page, or sign up for my newsletter. You can find The Alaskan Catch at these retailers:

Amazon    Barnes & Noble    Kobo    Google Play    iBooks     Harlequin 

So glad you stopped by today. Happy reading!